Electrically passive low-level light therapy system and methods incorporating same

ABSTRACT

Low-level light therapy system with an electrically passive, article of apparel that absorbs an incident spectrum including one or more of a UV wavelength, a visible wavelength, and a near infrared wavelength and emits light having an emission spectrum including visible light radiation and near infrared radiation. Light is emitted from the yarns and a textile material consisting of a network of yarns (as well as the article of apparel made from such a textile material) having an emission spectrum including visible light radiation and near infrared radiation in a direction toward a body of a person. An article of apparel that emits light in the visible/near infrared spectrum, a method of manufacture, and a low-level light therapy method are also disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is based on and claims priority under 37 U.S.C. § 119to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/720,544, filed Aug. 21, 2018, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a low-level light therapy systemhaving an article of apparel that emits light in the visible/nearinfrared spectrum without using an electrical power source and a wearerof the article of apparel is exposed to the emitted light, and tosystems and sub-systems that include the article of apparel. The emittedlight in the visible/near infrared spectrum has a therapeutic effect andis useful in low-level light therapy methods. The present disclosurealso relates to an article of apparel and other textile-based structuresthat emits light in the visible/near infrared spectrum per se, such asclothing, footwear, head covering, athletic gear, and bedding andtowels.

BACKGROUND

In the discussion that follows, reference is made to certain structuresand/or methods. However, the following references should not beconstrued as an admission that these structures and/or methodsconstitute prior art. Applicant expressly reserves the right todemonstrate that such structures and/or methods do not qualify as priorart against the present invention.

Light can affect the growth and metabolism of organisms (ranging fromsimple unicellular microorganisms to multi-cellular plants and mammals)and can produce a variety of beneficial therapeutic effects. Examples ofwell-known physiological effects are photosynthesis in plants andvitamin D production in mammals. Using light for therapeutic purposes,i.e., “light therapy,” has evolved from using direct sunlight, to usingfiltered sunlight, to using artificial light. Early light therapyfocused largely on using light in the ultraviolet (UV) range of thelight spectrum to treat skin diseases, ulcers, syphilis, lupus, pellagraand tuberculosis, and to heal wounds.

Photo-biomodulation, an example biochemical mechanism that relates tomitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (an endogenous photoreceptor), useslow power light—especially in the visible red to near infrared (NIR)wavelengths range—to affect the activity of one or more endogenousenzyme photoreceptors. Specifically, wavelengths of light used inphoto-biomodulation are matched to the absorption spectra ofphotosensitive reagents, and therapeutic effects arise as a result ofthe energy absorbed in mammalian tissue. Visible red and NIR wavelengthsare especially effective because they can penetrate deep into mammaliantissue and are primarily absorbed by hemoglobin and melanin. Incontrast, ultraviolet light only penetrates into the surface ofmammalian tissue, is primarily absorbed by DNA and proteins, and tendsto be carcinogenic and mutagenic.

Current devices and systems that deliver light to a mammalian, forexample, human, body for the purpose of providing Low Level LightTherapy (LLLT) do so via apparatuses that (1) contain actual lasersand/or LEDs and (2) use a physical electrical power source (primarilyelectrical outlets or batteries). Such requirements naturally limit theform of LLLT devices/systems and how and where LLLT devices/systems canbe used and implemented. Thus, it would be beneficial to have systems,subsystems and components that can be used to provide LLLT that (a) areindependent of an electrical power source and (b) produce visible andnear infrared radiation independent of electrically powered radiationemission devices such as lasers, LEDs, and the like.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to low-level light therapy system(s)with an electrically passive, article of apparel that absorbs anincident spectrum including one or more of a UV wavelength, a visiblewavelength, and a near infrared wavelength and emits light having anemission spectrum including visible light radiation and near infraredradiation. Light is emitted from a textile material consisting of anetwork of yarns (as well as the article of apparel incorporating suchtextile material) that emits light having an emission spectrum includingvisible light radiation and near infrared radiation in a directiontoward a body of a person or any other mammalian species (such as a dog,a cat, or a horse) and, in particular, toward mammalian tissue such ashuman skin, where it imparts a therapeutic effect.

An exemplary embodiment of a low-level light therapy system comprises anarticle of apparel that absorbs an incident spectrum including one ormore of a UV wavelength, a visible wavelength, and a near infraredwavelength and emits light having an emission spectrum including one ormore of visible light radiation and near infrared radiation. The articleof apparel is electrically passive, and the light having an emissionspectrum including one or more of visible light radiation and nearinfrared radiation is emitted from the article of apparel in a directiontoward a body of a person or any other mammalian species (such as a dog,a cat, or a horse) wearing the article of apparel.

An exemplary embodiment of a low-level light therapy sub-systemcomprises a textile material that absorbs an incident spectrum includingone or more of a UV wavelength, a visible wavelength, and a nearinfrared wavelength and emits light having an emission spectrumincluding one or more of visible light radiation and near infraredradiation. The textile material is electrically passive, and the lighthaving an emission spectrum including one or more of visible lightradiation and near infrared radiation is emitted from the textilematerial in a direction toward a body of a person or any other mammalianspecies (such as a dog, a cat, or a horse).

An exemplary embodiment of a method of treating soft tissue in needthereof comprises exposing said tissue to the emission spectrum of thelow-level light therapy system or light therapy sub-system.

An exemplary embodiment of a low-level light therapy method comprisesexposing soft tissue to the emission spectrum of the low-level lighttherapy system or light therapy sub-system.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of manufacture comprises mixing afirst textile grade, polymeric host material and at least one of a firstfluorescent component and a second fluorescent component using extrusiontechniques to form a masterbatch, wherein a concentration of thefluorescent component in the masterbatch is 2% to 20%, mixing themasterbatch with a volume of a second textile grade, polymeric hostmaterial to produce a feedstock in which a total amount of fluorescentcomponent in the feedstock is 0.01 wt. % to 1 wt. %, processing thefeedstock into flat yarn, and processing the flat yarn by texturing toform a textured yarn or by cutting to form a staple yarn. The firstfluorescent component has a quantum efficiency of more than 90% foremission at visible wavelengths and the second fluorescent component hasa quantum efficiency of more than 50% for emission at near infraredwavelengths, and when exposed to visible light, the textured yarn orstaple yarn emits radiation having an emission spectrum including atleast one peak in a range of 600 nm to 1200 nm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe embodiments, can be better understood when read in conjunction withthe appended drawings. It should be understood that the embodimentsdepicted are not limited to the precise arrangements andinstrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of a low-levellight therapy system.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the process of absorption and emission.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are magnified, schematic illustrations depicting aportion of an article of apparel (FIG. 3A) and an individual yarn (FIG.3B) absorbing at least a portion of incident spectrum and emitting lighthaving an emission spectrum.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of a network of yarns.

FIG. 5 illustrates examples of woven and knitted characteristics of thenetwork of yarns.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a multifilament yarn.

FIGS. 7 to 10 show example articles of apparel.

FIGS. 11A to 11B are experimental results showing spectra of a fabricexcited by blue light and green light (in arbitrary units of intensityversus wavelength (nm)).

FIGS. 12A to 12C are experimental results showing spectra of a fabricexcited by blue, green and red light (in arbitrary units of intensityversus wavelength (nm)).

FIGS. 13A to 13B are experimental results showing spectra of a fabricexcited by blue light and green light (in arbitrary units of intensityversus wavelength (nm)).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a low-level light therapy system 10 that that absorbs anincident spectrum including one or more of a UV wavelength, a visiblewavelength, and a near infrared wavelength and emits light having anemission spectrum including visible light radiation and near infraredradiation. In the example low-level light therapy system 10, an articleof apparel 20 absorbs an incident spectrum 30 and emits light 40 in adirection toward a body 50 of a person wearing the article of apparel 20(see magnified view 25 showing light 40 having an emission spectrumincluding one or more of visible light radiation and near infraredradiation is emitted from the article of apparel 20 in a directiontoward a body 50 of a person wearing the article of apparel 20).

In exemplary embodiments, the incident spectrum 30 includes one or moreof a UV wavelength (meaning radiation having wavelengths of 200 to 400nm), a visible wavelength (meaning radiation having wavelengths of 400to 700 nm), and a near infrared wavelength (meaning radiation havingwavelengths of 700 to 1200 nm). The incident spectrum 30 originates in asource 60 that is external to the article of apparel 20. In someembodiments, the source 60 is a source of natural light and can includethe sun, whether or not directly incident on the article of apparel 20.In alternative embodiments, the source 60 is an artificial source of aspectrum that replicates some or all of the spectrum emitted by the sun.In addition, the incident spectrum 30 from the source 60 can be filteredor otherwise directed and/or concentrated or moderated prior to theincident spectrum interacting with the article of apparel 20.

In exemplary embodiments, the article of apparel 20 absorbs at least aportion of the incident spectrum 30 and emits light 40 having anemission spectrum including one or more of visible light radiation(meaning radiation having wavelengths of 400 to 700 nm) and nearinfrared radiation (meaning radiation having wavelengths of 700 to 1200nm). The emission spectrum includes at least one peak in a range of 600nm to 1200 nm. For example, in exemplary embodiments, the emissionspectrum includes one or more of a first peak between 700 nm and 800 nmwith a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 80 nm to 200 nm,alternatively 100 nm to 150 nm, and a second peak between 800 nm and 900nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 80 nm to 200 nm,alternatively 100 nm to 150 nm.

In this context and as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2, the processof absorption 100 of at least a portion of the incident spectrum 30includes incident radiation 110 interacting with a portion of thearticle of apparel 20 resulting in an electron be raised from a groundstate 120 to an excited state 130. Subsequently, the process of emittinglight (or emission) 140 includes the electron in the excited state 130′returns to the ground state 120′ accompanied by emitted light 150.

The article of apparel 20 is electrically passive, meaning the articleof apparel 20 does not directly utilize an external source of power andit requires a light source as the source of the incident spectrum 30itself to emit the light 40 having the emission spectrum including oneor more of visible light radiation and near infrared radiation. As oneexample, the source 60 can be the sun and the article of apparel has noexternal source of power; accordingly, only the energy in the incidentspectrum 30 is provided to the low-level light therapy system 10. As asecond example, the source 60 can be an electrically powered lightsource, such as a light bulb, providing a full spectrum that includes atleast some wavelengths of 390 to 1200 nm and the article of apparel hasno external source of power; accordingly, only the energy in theincident spectrum 30 is provided to the low-level light therapy system10. As a third example, the source 60 can be an electrically poweredlight source, such as a light emitting diode (LED) with a spectrum thatincludes at least some wavelengths in the range of 200 to 1200 nm andthe article of apparel has no external source of power; accordingly,only the energy in the incident spectrum 30 is provided to the low-levellight therapy system 10.

FIG. 3A is a magnified, schematic illustration depicting a portion 200of an article of apparel 20 absorbing at least a portion of incidentspectrum 30 that includes one or more of a UV wavelength, a visiblewavelength, and a near infrared wavelength and emitting light 40 havingan emission spectrum including one or more of visible light radiationand near infrared radiation. As seen in FIG. 3A, the portion 200 of thearticle of apparel 20 includes one or more yarns 210. An individual yarn210 is schematically depicted in FIG. 3B. Yarn 210 includes a textilegrade, polymeric host material 220 and one or more fluorescentcomponents 230. Incident spectrum 30 interacts with the yarn 210(resulting in an electron being raised from a ground state to an excitedstate as previously described with reference to FIG. 2) and emittedlight 40 having an emission spectrum (resulting from the electron in theexcited state returning to the ground state as previously described withreference to FIG. 2) is subsequently emitted from the side surfaces 240of the yarn 210. In being emitted from the side surfaces 240 of the yarn210, the emission spectrum is emitted from a plurality of locationsalong a length (L) of the yarns 210.

The yarns may be included in an article of apparel as a discrete yarn ora plurality of discrete yarns incorporated into a textile material, oras a plurality of similar or dissimilar yarns combined to form a networkof yarns. FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of a network of yarns 300. Inexemplary embodiments, the network of yarns 300 includes a plurality ofa first yarn type 310 and a plurality of a second yarn type 320. Thedifferent yarn types can be incorporated into the textile material inany suitable manner; for example, the weft yarns can be of a first yarntype and the warp yarns can be of a second yarn type. Either of the weftyarns or the warp yarns or both can be yarns that absorb an incidentspectrum including one or more of a UV wavelength, a visible wavelength,and a near infrared wavelength and emits light having an emissionspectrum including one or more of visible light radiation and nearinfrared radiation.

However, any, a subset, or all of the yarns in the network of yarns 300can be yarns that absorb an incident spectrum including one or more of aUV wavelength, a visible wavelength, and a near infrared wavelength andemits light having an emission spectrum including one or more of visiblelight radiation and near infrared radiation. Accordingly, the network ofyarns can incorporate one or more yarn types that absorb an incidentspectrum including one or more of a UV wavelength, a visible wavelength,and a near infrared wavelength and emits light having an emissionspectrum including one or more of visible light radiation and nearinfrared radiation, where different yarn types absorb differentwavelengths from the incident spectrum and/or emit an emission spectrumwith different wavelengths.

The network of yarns can have any woven character and/or any knittedcharacter. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of woven character 350, inwhich yarns are assembled in parallel using weaving, and an example ofknitted character 360, in which yarns are knitted into a fabric. Otherexamples shown in FIG. 5 include twilled 370, plain dutch weave 380, andtwilled dutch weave 390, but any woven or knitted character can beutilized in the low-level light therapy systems disclosed herein.

The yarns can be in any suitable form. For example, the yarns can bemonofilament or multifilament, staple or continuous. FIG. 6 is aschematic drawing of a multifilament yarn 400. In exemplary embodiments,the multifilament yarn 400 includes at least one of a first filamenttype 410 and a plurality of a second filament type 420. The differentfilament types can be incorporated into the textile material in anysuitable manner. The first filament type 410 absorbs an incidentspectrum including one or more of a UV wavelength, a visible wavelength,and a near infrared wavelength and emits light having an emissionspectrum including one or more of visible light radiation and nearinfrared radiation. One (or more than one) of such a first filament type410 can be incorporated into the multifilament yarn 400. Alternatively,a majority of the filaments in the multifilament yarn 400 can be of sucha first filament type 410. However, any, a subset, or all of thefilaments in the multifilament yarn 400 can be of a type that absorb anincident spectrum including one or more of a UV wavelength, a visiblewavelength, and a near infrared wavelength and emits light having anemission spectrum including one or more of visible light radiation andnear infrared radiation. Accordingly, the multifilament yarn 400 canincorporate one or more filament types each of which absorb an incidentspectrum including one or more of a UV wavelength, a visible wavelength,and a near infrared wavelength and emits light having an emissionspectrum including one or more of visible light radiation and nearinfrared radiation, where different first filament types 420 absorbdifferent wavelengths from the incident spectrum and/or emit an emissionspectrum with different wavelengths.

In addition, the yarns can be staple or multi-filament, where staplerefers to fiber of discrete length and multi-filament refers to acontinuous fiber. Further, the yarns may be composite yarns with desiredproperties and aesthetics resulting from, for example, yarn mixes (mixedcolors, mixed deniers, mixed cross-sections, mixedbicomponent/homofilament, etc.). Also for example, the yarns may betextured by, for example, forming crimps, loops, coils, or crinkles inthe filaments, which affects the behavior and hand of textile materialsmade from them.

The yarns include a textile grade, polymeric host material 220. Suitabletextile grade, polymeric host material 220 includes a homopolymer or acopolymer or a long-chain polymer selected from the group consisting ofpolyesters, polyamides, olefins, acrylics, poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA), polylactic acid (PLA), and polycarbonates. In exemplaryembodiments, the textile grade, polymeric host material has an intrinsicviscosity (IV) in a range of 0.5 to 1.0 dL/g.

The yarns also include one or more fluorescent components. Examplefluorescent components include one or more of a dye and a quantum dot.

The fluorescent component is characterized by having either or both anemission spectrum including visible light radiation having a quantumefficiency of 90% and above, and an emission spectrum in the nearinfrared range having a quantum efficiency of 50% and above. When thefluorescent component is a dye, the dye includes one or more of aperylene dye, a cyanine dye, a rhodamine dye, a coumarine dye, a dyebelonging to the class of anthrapyridone dyes, thioxanthene dyes andthioindigoid dyes, or mixtures thereof.

In general, the higher the molecular weight of the fluorescentcomponents, the less weight percent of the fluorescent components isnecessary to obtain the desired intensity of emission spectrum. Also ingeneral, the higher the quantum efficiency of the fluorescentcomponents, the less weight percent of the fluorescent components isnecessary to obtain the desired intensity of emission spectrum. Thus, inexemplary embodiments, the amount of fluorescent components in thetextile grade, polymeric host material is in the range of 0.01 weight %(wt. %) to 1 wt. %. Alternatively, the amount of fluorescent componentsin the textile grade, polymeric host material is in the range of 0.01wt. % to 0.1 wt. %, or is in the range of 0.05 wt. %, 0.10 wt. %, 0.15wt. % or 0.20 wt. % to 0.10 wt. %, 0.25 wt. %, or 0.50 wt. %. Inexemplary embodiments, 0.015 wt. % of a red anthrapyridone fluorescentdye was used, a combination of 0.025 wt. % of a perylene fluorescent dyeand 0.06 wt. % of a cyanine fluorescent dye (which is a near infrareddye) was used, or a combination of 0.045 wt. % of a fluorescent dyecalled Vat Violet 3, which belongs to the class of thioindigoid dyes,and 0.045 wt. % of a cyanine fluorescent dye (which is a near infrareddye) was used.

Because of its strong UV light absorbing capabilities that competes withUV absorption capabilities of the fluorescent components, the amount oftitanium dioxide (TiO₂) included in the yarns is minimized. In general,as the amount of titanium dioxide increase, the performance of the lowlevel light therapy system decreases (as the absorption performancedecreases). Thus, in exemplary embodiments, the amount of titaniumdioxide is less than 2.0 wt. %, alternatively less than 1.0 wt. %. It ispreferred that there be no titanium dioxide in the yarns, i.e., that theyarns are titanium dioxide free.

Individual yarns can be any desired cross-section. For example,individual monofilament yarn can have a circular cross-section and be,for example, on the order of 10 microns in diameter. Also for example,individual monofilament yarn can have a multilobal cross section, suchas a trilobal cross section, and be, for example, on the order of 10microns in diameter. Multifilament yarn can be of any type, includingFFT (false twist textured) or AJT (air jet textured).

The yarns and fabrics or textile materials incorporating the yarns canbe manufactured using suitable methods. For example, a first textilegrade, polymeric host material and at least one of a first fluorescentcomponent and a second fluorescent component can be mixed usingextrusion techniques to form a masterbatch. In exemplary embodiments,the masterbatch has a concentration of the fluorescent component of 2%to 20%. The masterbatch is then mixed with a volume of a second textilegrade, polymeric host material to produce a feedstock in which a totalamount of fluorescent component in the feedstock is 0.01 wt. % to 1 wt.%, alternatively in the range of 0.05 wt. %, 0.10 wt. %, 0.15 wt. % or0.20 wt. % to 0.10 wt. %, 0.25 wt. %, or 0.50 wt. %.

The feedstock is then processed into flat yarn. An example technique forprocessing the feedstock into flat yarn is melt spinning. But othertechniques can be used, such as wet spinning or dry spinning. The flatyarn can be further processed by texturing to form a textured yarn or bycutting to form a staple yarn. Texturing the yarn helps to ensure lightis emitted from the side surface along the length of the yarns (asdescribed earlier with reference to FIG. 3B). As discloses elsewhereherein, when exposed to visible light, the textured yarn or staple yarnemits radiation having an emission spectrum including at least one peakin a range of 600 nm to 1200 nm. Texturing also serves secondarypurposes including creating a softer and better touch (“hand feel”) andimproving moisture control.

Suitable textile grade, polymeric host materials and fluorescentcomponents can be any such materials and components disclosed elsewhereherein. In exemplary embodiments, the textile grade, polymeric hostmaterial has an intrinsic viscosity (IV) in a range of 0.5 to 1.0 dL/g.In some exemplary embodiments, the first textile grade, polymeric hostmaterial and the second textile grade, polymeric host material are thesame, i.e., compositionally identical. In other exemplary embodiments,the first textile grade, polymeric host material and the second textilegrade, polymeric host material are of a same type of polymer, e.g., areboth polyesters, polyamides, olefins, acrylics, PMMA, PLA, orpolycarbonates. When the first textile grade, polymeric host materialand the second textile grade, polymeric host material are not the same,i.e., not compositionally identical, it is preferable that the firsttextile grade, polymeric host material has a higher intrinsic viscosity(IV) than the second textile grade, polymeric host material.

In exemplary embodiments, the fluorescent components include one or moreof a dye and a quantum dot and, when the fluorescent component is a dye,the dye includes one or more of a perylene dye, a cyanine dye, arhodamine dye, a coumarine dye, a dye belonging to the class ofanthrapyridone dyes, thioxanthene dyes and thioindigoid dyes, ormixtures thereof. In some exemplary embodiments, the first fluorescentcomponent has a quantum efficiency of more than 90% for emission atvisible wavelengths and the second fluorescent component has a quantumefficiency of more than 50% for emission at near infrared wavelengths.

It should be noted that prior to mixing, the optically clear, polymerichost material can be processed using conventional pretreatment, dryingand crystallization techniques. Also, the manufactured textured yarn orstaple yarn can be further manufactured into fabrics or textilematerials or an article of apparel using suitable methods known in thetextile industry.

As described herein, the fluorescent components emit light at visible ornear infrared wavelengths. The fluorescent components transform part ofthe wideband incident ambient light into narrow band light with theprecise wavelengths that studies have shown to have wellness andtherapeutic benefits such as for hair regrowth, weight loss, muscletoning, skin rejuvenation, and several other treatments. The followingTable 1 presents effective wavelengths for Low Level Light Therapy(“LLLT”) for certain applications.

TABLE 1 Application Effective Wavelength Cellulite 600-900 nm Skin600-900 nm Weight loss 600-900 nm Acupuncture 600-900 nm Hair Growth600-750 nm Pain 600-900 nm Bone regeneration 600-900 nm Blood Flow300-900 nm Muscle relaxation (muscle-ache) 600-900 nm Sport injuries600-900 nm Cartilage growth 600-900 nm

The Bunsen-Roscoe law (reciprocity law) states that the quantity of thereaction of a photochemical reaction is proportional to the product oflight irradiance and exposure time. Most photo-biomodulation effects arecumulative and research has shown that positive results depend on theadministered dose of light rather than the intensity alone. In otherwords, the same dose (and same effect) can be provided by a highintensity of light in a short time or a low intensity of light in a longtime. Accordingly, the low-level light therapy systems disclosed hereincan be used in methods of treating soft tissue and as a low-level lighttherapy method in which soft tissue is exposed to the emission spectrumof the low-level light therapy system. In particular, the fluorescentcomponents utilized in the yarns that are incorporated into the articleof apparel and/or the textile material that are part of the low-levellight therapy system and/or sub-systems are selected to produce anemission spectrum that includes one or more of the effective wavelengthsset forth in Table 1. Moreover, the time exposure to an emissionspectrum that includes one or more of the effective wavelengths may bemuch longer than the typical time exposure involved in conventionallow-level light therapy (such as conventional light therapy using LEDsand laser sources). Because the time of exposure can be longer using thestructures disclosed herein, the intensity of the emission spectrum thatincludes one or more of the effective wavelengths emitted from suchstructures does not need to be high to provide an effective lightdosage.

Low-level light therapy systems disclosed herein can be used to applylight therapy to contribute to a wide range of therapeutic effects atthe molecular, cellular, psychosomatic, psychological and tissue levels.

Light therapy (in particular, Low Level Light Therapy (“LLLT”)) is anincreasingly recognized and recommended treatment option for prevention,therapy, and rehabilitation. Common applications of LLLT are woundhealing, pain management, inflammation and restoration of function,treatment of skin disease and skin rejuvenation, hair loss and hairregrowth, chronic ulcers and chronic pain syndromes like headaches,dermatology (for example, LLLT was approved by the Food and DrugAdministration in 2007 for the treatment of mild to moderate malepattern hair loss), acne therapy, and photo-rejuvenation (to reverse theprocess of sun-induced aging and environmental damage to skin).

As used herein, “low-level” used in conjunction with “low-level lighttherapy” and “LLLT” refers to light sources having a power densityoutput that is less than or equal to 100 mW/cm². These low level lightsources can provide enhanced cellular function as therapeutic effectthrough the physiological effect of photo-biomodulation. Given their lowpower density, low-level light therapy is not used for surgery or tissueablation due to the low power density employed. In contrast, lightsources with output power density larger than 100 mW/cm² are calledhigh-level light (“HLL”). High-level light sources cause a photothermalphysiological effect and cellular destruction, and, given their highpower density, these high-level light sources are used for surgery andablation.

In exemplary embodiments, the emitted light mimics the absorptionspectrum of the molecules that are absorbing the light, and thewavelengths that are strongly absorbed can also enable a photobiologicalresponse. For example, visible light can affect the human immune systemresponse through the skin. Skin is naturally exposed to light more thanother organs and responds well to red and near infrared wavelengths.Thus, an emission spectrum that includes visible light, and preferablyred and near infrared wavelengths, can penetrate epidermal and dermallayers to a depth of 2-3 mm and directly interact with circulatinglymphocytes to modulate immune system function.

In other embodiments, mitochondria (which have absorption peaks in thered and near infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum)synthesize nitric oxide (NO) in response to light therapy by neuronalnitric oxide synthase and this nitric oxide then contributes toregulating respiration by competitive binding to the oxygen binding ofcytochrome c oxidase to thereby affect cell metabolism.

In still other embodiments, emitted light in the visible light range,i.e., 600 nm to 700 nm, can penetrate epidermal and dermal layers anddirectly interact with circulating lymphocytes to modulate the immunefunction (resulting in enhanced phagocyte activity of monocytes andgranulocytes and the proliferation of other human cells). Visible lightis also the most powerful external regulator of the circadian response.

In further embodiments, emitted light having red and infraredwavelengths can been used for a variety of therapeutic applications,including: healing wounds, treating mouth sores caused by radiation andchemotherapy, re-growing hair, recovering from cosmetic surgery,treating injuries to joints and soft tissue, reducing the inflammatorypain of arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome, among others. Emittedlight having red wavelengths can be used to stimulate the regrowth ofnerve cells. Emitted light having red and infrared wavelengths helpswith blood circulation and natural healing by stimulating DNA synthesisin human peripheral blood lymphocytes but also induces a change in thecytokine content in the blood. These wavelengths of light penetrate skincells stimulating production of antioxidants, reducing cellular stressand increasing cellular energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate(ATP).

In still further embodiments, emitted light having long infraredwavelengths allow for deeper tissue penetration than visiblewavelengths. Near infrared light (600-1200 nm) can penetrate humantissue for over an inch and transcutaneously deliver deep into innertissues such as muscles and nerves.

In still other embodiments, emitted light having visible and infraredwavelengths can penetrate the circulating blood, suggesting suchlow-level light therapy systems can be used to apply light therapy forblood related therapeutic effects.

It should be noted that penetration depths disclosed herein can becontingent on tissue type, pigmentation and foreign substances on theskin surface but, nonetheless, can be generally understood to have thefollowing characteristics: visible light in the blue-green range(475-545 nm) can penetrate twice as far as ultraviolet (UV) light(150-380 nm), while red and near Infrared (NIR) light (600-1200 nm) canpenetrate more than ten times as far as UV light. Emitted light with awavelength between 600 and 1200 nm constitutes the so-called therapeuticwindow because these wavelengths can penetrate into the subcutaneoustissue without significant absorption by water.

The low-level light therapy system can be embodied in any suitablearticle of apparel. Such apparel can be made with yarns that areembedded with fluorescent components (dyes and/or quantum dots). Thefluorescent components can emit light at visible or near infraredwavelengths and transform part of the wideband incident ambient lightinto narrow band light with the precise wavelengths that studies haveshown to have wellness and therapeutic benefits such as for hairregrowth, weight loss, muscle toning, skin rejuvenation, and severalother treatments as disclosed herein.

Several example articles of apparel are illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10.For example, the article of apparel can be clothing, such as a shirt500, a pant 510, a short, a sock. Other suitable articles of clothinginclude a footwear 520, a hand covering, such as glove 530, a wristband, a head band, and a head covering, which includes, for example, ahat 540, a scarf, or a helmet. In addition, suitable articles ofclothing include athletic gear such as work out clothing 600 anduniforms. Further, the low-level light therapy system can be embodied inall or a portion of any suitable article of apparel, such as an armsleeve, a calf sleeve, an arm band 610, or bandage material. Thelow-level light therapy system can also be embodied in all or a portionof any suitable article of apparel 620 used for other mammals, such asdogs, cats or horses.

In addition to all or a portion of articles of apparel, the low-levellight therapy system can be incorporated into bedding or a towel.

When a plurality of yarns is incorporated into a textile material, theemission from the side surface at substantially multiple points thoughtthe yarn, i.e., light is absorbed and emitted locally at discreet points(see, e.g., FIG. 3B) results in area of the textile material emittingthe emission spectrum. This area can be the entire article of apparel orcan be a plurality of discreet areas within the article of apparel. Insome embodiments, the plurality of discreet areas can be located withinthe article of apparel to correspond to discreet body parts. Forexample, where the article of apparel is a shirt, the plurality ofdiscreet areas can be located within the shirt to correspond to thediscreet body parts of any one or more of a shoulder, an elbow, a bicep,a tricep, etc. In another example, where the article of apparel is apant or a short, the plurality of discreet areas can be located withinthe pant or a short to correspond to the discreet body parts of any oneor more of a knee, a hip, a quadriceps, a hamstring, etc. In stillanother example, where the article of apparel is a headgear, theplurality of discreet areas can be located within the headgear tocorrespond to the discreet body parts of any one or more of a forehead,a crown, a temple, etc.

Although described herein in connection with an article of apparel, suchas clothing, footwear, head covering, and athletic gear, it should beunderstood that the structure and methods and principles disclosedherein can be similarly applied to other textile-based objects, such asbedding and towels, and sun shade structures. In each instance, thetextile-based objects can absorb an incident spectrum and, when thetextile-based object is oriented toward a body of a person, can emitlight in a direction toward the body of that person. For bedding andtowels, that can mean a person swaddled, draped, or cloaked in thetextile-based object can receive the light emitted from thetextile-based object; for sun shade structures, that can mean a personsitting underneath or in the shade of such a structure can receive thelight emitted from the textile-based object.

The textile materials may be implemented in conjunction with otherexisting special performance textile technologies, like geotextiles,nanotechnology textiles, push/pull fabric constructions, phase changematerial (PCM) textiles, temperature/humidity gradient textiles, etc.,designed for applications like moisture management, waterproofing,comfort cooling, and comfort heating. Functional finishes and coatingsfor antimicrobial, antistatic, crease-resistance, flame-resistance,water and oil repellency, waterproofing, etc., are all also compatiblewith the textile materials and can provide additional properties withoutaffecting the performance of the textile materials, as well as articlesof apparel comprising such textile materials, themselves.

Further, a secondary property of the articles of apparel is a “shading”effect whereby the yarns/fabric do not heat up under the sun as much aswould conventionally be expected because the use of fluorescentcomponents with high quantum efficiency results in yarns that releasemost of the absorbed energy via the production of therapeutic emittedlight and is not retained as heat-producing energy. An additionalsecondary effect is extra protection against short wavelengths havingdamaging effect on the human skin, which occurs by converting the energyin the potentially damaging, short wavelengths into energy at moreuseful, less damaging, and/or therapeutic emitted light wavelengths.

The embodiments encompassed herein are now described with reference tothe following examples. These examples are provided for the purpose ofillustration only and the disclosure encompassed herein should in no waybe construed as being limited to these examples, but rather should beconstrued to encompass any and all variations which become evident as aresult of the teachings provided herein.

Example 1

A fabric was constructed using yarns made from textile—grade polyester(PET) with IV=0.65 dL/g. The PET is “super bright,” i.e., it contains0.00% titanium dioxide. The yarn includes 0.015 wt. % of a redanthrapyridone fluorescent dye called “solvent red dye 149” that isdistributed homogenously in the PET polymeric host material. The fabricwas stretched taut and, in separate experiments, exposed to a firstspectrum (700 in FIG. 11A) containing blue light with a peak (705 inFIG. 11A) at 450 nm and exposed to a second spectrum (710 in FIG. 11B)containing green light with a peak (715 in FIG. 11B) at 525 nm.

FIG. 11A shows that the fabric exposed to the first spectrum 700 emits aspectrum of red light with a peak (725 in FIG. 11A) at 670 nm and a fullwidth at half maximum (FWHM) of about 85 nm. FIG. 11B shows that thefabric exposed to the second spectrum 710 also emits a spectrum of redlight with a peak (725 in FIG. 11B) at 670 nm and a full width at halfmaximum (FWHM) of about 82.5 nm. In both instances, the peak of 670 nmfor the emitted light is a therapeutic wavelength within the health andperformance window.

From FIGS. 11A and 11B, one can observe the following. First, the peakwavelength in the emitted spectrum is independent of the incidentspectrum 700,710 (as both a peak at 450 nm and a peak at 525 nm in theincident spectra 700,710 resulted in an emission spectrum with a peak at670 nm). Second, although the first spectrum 700 containing incidentblue light with a peak at 450 nm was approximately double the magnitudeof the second spectrum 710 containing incident green light with a peakat 525 nm, the emission peak at 670 nm for the emitted spectrum in eachexperiment had approximately the same magnitude.

Example 2

A fabric was constructed using yarns made from textile—grade polyester(PET) with IV=0.65 dL/g. The PET is “super bright,” i.e., it contains0.00% titanium dioxide. The yarn includes 0.025 wt. % of a perylenefluorescent dye and 0.06 wt. % of a cyanine fluorescent dye (which is anear infrared dye), both of which are distributed homogenously in thePET polymeric host material. The fabric was stretched taut and, inseparate experiments, exposed to a first spectrum (750 in FIG. 12A)containing blue light with a peak (755 in FIG. 12A) at 390 nm, exposedto a second spectrum (760 in FIG. 12B) containing green light with apeak (765 in FIG. 12B) at 525 nm, and exposed to a third spectrum (770in FIG. 12C) containing red light with a peak (775 in FIG. 12C) at 630nm.

FIG. 12A shows that the fabric exposed to the first spectrum 750 emits aspectrum of near infrared (NIR) light with a peak (780 in FIG. 12A) at756 nm and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of about 85 nm. FIG. 12Bshows that the fabric exposed to the second spectrum 760 also emits aspectrum of NIR light with a peak (785 in FIG. 12B) at 756 nm and a fullwidth at half maximum (FWHM) of about 86 nm. FIG. 12C shows that thefabric exposed to the third spectrum 770 also emits a spectrum of NIRlight with a peak (790 in FIG. 12C) at 745 nm and a full width at halfmaximum (FWHM) of about 103 nm. In each instance, the peak of 750±6 nmfor the emitted light is a therapeutic wavelength within the health andperformance window.

Example 3

A fabric was constructed using yarns made from textile—grade polyester(PET) with IV=0.65 dL/g. The PET is “super bright,” i.e., it contains0.00% titanium dioxide. The yarn includes 0.045 wt. % of a fluorescentdye called Vat Violet 3, which belongs to the class of thioindigoiddyes, and 0.045 wt. % of a cyanine fluorescent dye (which is a nearinfrared dye), both of which are distributed homogenously in the PETpolymeric host material. The fabric was stretched taut and, in separateexperiments, exposed to a first spectrum (800 in FIG. 13A) containingblue light with a peak (805 in FIG. 13A) at 400 nm, and exposed to asecond spectrum (810 in FIG. 13B) containing green light with a peak(815 in FIG. 13B) at 525 nm.

FIG. 13A shows that the fabric exposed to the first spectrum 800 emits aspectrum with two peaks—a first peak (820 in FIG. 13A) at 600 nm and afull width at half maximum (FWHM) of about 75 nm and a second peak (825in FIG. 13A) at 730 nm and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of about113 nm. The first peak 820 is a red emission peak and the second peak825 is a NIR emission peak.

FIG. 13B shows that the fabric exposed to the second spectrum 810 emitsa spectrum of with two peaks—a first peak (830 in FIG. 13B) at 600 nmand a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of about 75 nm and a second peak(835 in FIG. 13B) at 730 nm and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) ofabout 125 nm. The first peak 830 is a red emission peak and the secondpeak 835 is a NIR emission peak.

The spectra shown in FIGS. 11A-B, 12A-C, and 13A-B are presentedgraphically as arbitrary units of intensity versus wavelength in nm and,in each graph, intensity (arbitrary units) on the y-axis ranges fromzero to 10000 arbitrary units and wavelength on the x-axis ranges from350 nm to 900 nm.

While reference has been made to specific embodiments, it is apparentthat other embodiments and variations can be devised by others skilledin the art without departing from their spirit and scope. The appendedclaims are intended to be construed to include all such embodiments andequivalent variations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A low-level light therapy system, comprising: anarticle of apparel that absorbs an incident spectrum including one ormore of a UV wavelength, a visible wavelength, and a near infraredwavelength and emits light having an emission spectrum including one ormore of visible light radiation and near infrared radiation, wherein thearticle of apparel is electrically passive, wherein the light having anemission spectrum including one or more of visible light radiation andnear infrared radiation is emitted from the article of apparel in adirection toward a body of a person wearing the article of apparel, andwherein the emission spectrum includes one or more of a first peakbetween 700 nm and 800 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of100 nm to 150 nm and a second peak between 800 nm and 900 nm with a fullwidth at half maximum (FWHM) of 100 nm to 150 nm.
 2. The light therapysystem according to claim 1, wherein the article of apparel, comprises:a textile material including a network of yarns, wherein the yarnsinclude one or more of a textured yarn and a staple yarn; wherein eachyarn in the network of yarns includes a textile grade, polymeric hostmaterial and 0.01 wt. % to 1.0 wt. % of one or more fluorescentcomponents, wherein the fluorescent component having an emissionspectrum including visible light radiation has a quantum efficiency of90% and above, and wherein the fluorescent component having an emissionspectrum in the near infrared range has a quantum efficiency of 50% andabove.
 3. The light therapy system according to claim 2, wherein thefluorescent component includes one or more of a dye and a quantum dot.4. The light therapy system according to claim 3, wherein the dyeincludes one or more of a perylene dye, a cyanine dye, a rhodamine dye,a coumarine dye, and a dye belonging to the class of anthrapyridonedyes, thioxanthene dyes and thioindigoid dyes.
 5. The light therapysystem of claim 3, wherein the dye includes one or more species offluorescent dyes.
 6. The light therapy system according to claim 2,wherein the textile grade, polymeric host material is a homopolymer or acopolymer or a long-chain polymer and is selected from the groupconsisting of polyesters, polyamides, olefins, acrylics, PMMA, PLA, andpolycarbonates, and wherein the textile grade, polymeric host materialhas an intrinsic viscosity (IV) in a range of 0.5 to 1.0 dL/g.
 7. Thelight therapy system according to claim 6, wherein each yarn in thenetwork of yarns further includes less than 2.0 wt. % titanium dioxide.8. The light therapy system according to claim 2, wherein the lighthaving an emission spectrum including one or more of visible lightradiation and near infrared radiation emitted from the article ofapparel is emitted from a plurality of locations along a length of oneor more of the yarns.
 9. The light therapy system according to claim 1,wherein the emission spectrum includes at least one peak in a range of600 nm to 1200 nm.
 10. The light therapy system according to claim 1,wherein the light having an emission spectrum including one or more ofvisible light radiation and near infrared radiation is emitted from aportion of the article of apparel.
 11. The light therapy systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the article of apparel is selected fromthe group consisting of a footwear, a shirt, a pant, a short, a handcovering, a sock, an arm sleeve, a calf sleeve, an arm band, a wristband, a head band, and a head covering.
 12. The light therapy systemaccording to claim 11, wherein the head covering is a hat or a helmet.13. The light therapy system according to claim 1, wherein the articleof apparel is an athletic gear.
 14. The light therapy system accordingto claim 1, further comprising a source that emits the incidentspectrum.
 15. The light therapy system of claim 1, wherein the articleof apparel, comprises: a plurality of yarns, wherein the yarns includeone or more of a textured yarn and a staple yarn; wherein each yarnincludes a textile grade, polymeric host material and 0.01 wt. % to 1.0wt. % of one or more fluorescent components, wherein the fluorescentcomponent having an emission spectrum including visible light radiationhas a quantum efficiency of 90% and above, and wherein the fluorescentcomponent having an emission spectrum in the near infrared range has aquantum efficiency of 50% and above.
 16. The light therapy systemaccording to claim 15, wherein the dye includes one or more of aperylene dye, a cyanine dye, a rhodamine dye, a coumarine dye, and a dyebelonging to the class of anthrapyridone dyes, thioxanthene dyes andthioindigoid dyes.
 17. The light therapy system according to claim 16,wherein the textile grade, polymeric host material is a homopolymer or acopolymer or a long-chain polymer and is selected from the groupconsisting of polyesters, polyamides, olefins, acrylics, PMMA, PLA, andpolycarbonates, and wherein the textile grade, polymeric host materialhas an intrinsic viscosity (IV) in a range of 0.5 to 1.0 dL/g.
 18. Thelight therapy system according to claim 17, wherein each yarn in thenetwork of yarns further includes less than 2.0 wt. % titanium dioxide.19. The light therapy system according to claim 18, wherein the lighthaving an emission spectrum including one or more of visible lightradiation and near infrared radiation emitted from the article ofapparel is emitted from a plurality of locations along a length of oneor more of the yarns.
 20. The light therapy system according to claim19, wherein the emission spectrum includes at least one peak in a rangeof 600 nm to 1200 nm.
 21. The light therapy system according to claim19, wherein the emission spectrum includes one or more of a first peakbetween 700 nm and 800 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of100 nm to 150 nm and a second peak between 800 nm and 900 nm with a fullwidth at half maximum (FWHM) of 100 nm to 150 nm.
 22. The light therapysystem according to claim 18, wherein the light having an emissionspectrum including one or more of visible light radiation and nearinfrared radiation is emitted from a portion of the article of apparel.23. The light therapy system according to claim 22, wherein the articleof apparel is selected from the group consisting of a footwear, a shirt,a pant, a short, a hand covering, a sock, an arm sleeve, a calf sleeve,an arm band, a wrist band, a head band, and a head covering.
 24. Thelight therapy system according to claim 22, wherein the article ofapparel is an athletic gear.
 25. The light therapy system according toclaim 18, further comprising a source that emits the incident spectrum.26. A low-level light therapy system, comprising: an article of apparelthat absorbs an incident spectrum including one or more of a UVwavelength, a visible wavelength, and a near infrared wavelength andemits light having an emission spectrum including one or more of visiblelight radiation and near infrared radiation, wherein the article ofapparel is electrically passive, wherein the light having an emissionspectrum including one or more of visible light radiation and nearinfrared radiation is emitted from the article of apparel in a directiontoward a body of a person wearing the article of apparel, wherein thearticle of apparel, comprises a textile material including a network ofyarns, wherein the yarns include one or more of a textured yarn and astaple yarn, wherein each yarn in the network of yarns includes atextile grade, polymeric host material and 0.01 wt. % to 1.0 wt. % ofone or more fluorescent components, wherein the fluorescent componenthaving an emission spectrum including visible light radiation has aquantum efficiency of 90% and above, wherein the fluorescent componenthaving an emission spectrum in the near infrared range has a quantumefficiency of 50% and above, wherein the textile grade, polymeric hostmaterial is a homopolymer or a copolymer or a long-chain polymer and isselected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, olefins,acrylics, PMMA, PLA, and polycarbonates, and wherein the textile grade,polymeric host material has an intrinsic viscosity (IV) in a range of0.5 to 1.0 dL/g, and wherein each yarn in the network of yarns furtherincludes less than 2.0 wt. % titanium dioxide.
 27. The light therapysystem according to claim 26, wherein the fluorescent component includesone or more of a dye and a quantum dot.
 28. The light therapy systemaccording to claim 27, wherein the dye includes one or more of aperylene dye, a cyanine dye, a rhodamine dye, a coumarine dye, and a dyebelonging to the class of anthrapyridone dyes, thioxanthene dyes andthioindigoid dyes.
 29. The light therapy system of claim 27, wherein thedye includes one or more species of fluorescent dyes.
 30. The lighttherapy system according to claim 26, wherein the light having anemission spectrum including one or more of visible light radiation andnear infrared radiation emitted from the article of apparel is emittedfrom a plurality of locations along a length of one or more of theyarns.
 31. The light therapy system according to claim 30, wherein theemission spectrum includes one or more of a first peak between 700 nmand 800 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 100 nm to 150 nmand a second peak between 800 nm and 900 nm with a full width at halfmaximum (FWHM) of 100 nm to 150 nm.
 32. The light therapy systemaccording to claim 31, wherein the light having an emission spectrumincluding one or more of visible light radiation and near infraredradiation is emitted from a portion of the article of apparel.
 33. Thelight therapy system according to claim 26, wherein the emissionspectrum includes at least one peak in a range of 600 nm to 1200 nm. 34.The light therapy system according to claim 26, wherein the article ofapparel is selected from the group consisting of a footwear, a shirt, apant, a short, a hand covering, a sock, an arm sleeve, a calf sleeve, anarm band, a wrist band, a head band, and a head covering.
 35. The lighttherapy system according to claim 34, wherein the head covering is a hator a helmet.
 36. The light therapy system according to claim 26, whereinthe article of apparel is an athletic gear.
 37. The light therapy systemaccording to claim 26, further comprising a source that emits theincident spectrum.